Chapter 131: The Execution at Jiangzhou (Part One)

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Setting aside the matter of Liangshan's plan to rescue Song Jiang in Jiangzhou, consider Dai Zong’s condition. Throughout the journey, he ate and drank while constantly on the move, managing to control his bodily functions through his internal energy cultivation. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to run back to Jiangzhou so quickly in just a few days. Strangely, his previously stagnant internal energy cultivation and mastery of this secret technique seemed to have advanced somewhat this time.

At this very moment, inside the Jiangzhou prison.

Song Jiang looked at the figure before him, Sun Meng, and swallowed. “Senior, what brings you to see Song Jiang?” This prison in Jiangzhou was no ordinary place. The fact that Sun Meng could enter unnoticed like this made Song Jiang wonder just how powerful he truly was.

“It was Huang Wenbing’s idea to execute you by beheading and display your head publicly, very soon,” Sun Meng said, looking at Song Jiang. “Are you afraid?”

This execution was not like Lin Chong’s escorted exile. The shackles used this time were specially made, rendering Song Jiang unable to use even the slightest bit of his internal energy.

“Song Jiang’s current plight is due to his own missteps; he blames no one else,” Song Jiang sighed. He had often wondered whether things might have gone better if he had joined Chao Gai and the others at Liangshan from the start.

Yet that night, when he composed his rebellious poem, he truly felt a desire to save the suffering world.

Liangshan was, after all, just a band of outlaws occupying a mountain. No matter how many they were, could they really stand against the imperial army?

“Facing death, it’s impossible not to feel fear. But what Song Jiang fears is not losing his life, but that he won’t see this beautiful world again!” Song Jiang sat down and spoke.

“Dai Zong has contacted the people at Liangshan. They plan to rescue you by attacking Jiangzhou. Zhang Shun has gone to find Zhang Heng and the others to stage a prison break for your rescue. You will not die,” Sun Meng said, locking eyes with Song Jiang.

“The reincarnation of the Stars, the gathering point is at Liangshan. When the 108 stars converge, immense power can be formed. The war between Song and Liao is imminent, and time is short. If you truly wish to unleash your resentment for the nation and its people, why not give it a try?” Sun Meng looked at Song Jiang thoughtfully. He noticed that the star cultivation method Song Jiang had disseminated offered more and better feedback for his own calculations.

Moreover, if Song Jiang refused to join Liangshan, the heroic men he gathered along the way would likely delay their ascent to the mountain. What would become of their mission then?

Song Jiang was silent for a long moment before responding, “Senior, my fate does not belong to the original 108 stars. If I join the mountain, I fear that…”

Sun Meng interrupted, “You won’t need to worry about that. Help me with my task, and you will achieve your own goals as well, won’t you?”

Song Jiang stood and bowed deeply to Sun Meng. “I am deeply honored by your trust, yet I am but a humble servant of the great Song dynasty’s security. From now on, I am willing to follow your instructions, only asking for your aid when the war between Song and Liao breaks out.”

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Sun Meng reached out and touched the internal energy attached to Song Jiang’s fate, then turned and vanished.

Looking up, Song Jiang found Sun Meng had already disappeared. Footsteps approached, and a group of officers pushed a heavily injured Dai Zong, half-dragged on the ground.

“Dai Zong!” Song Jiang exclaimed, surprised. Didn’t Dai Zong go to deliver a letter? How did he end up captured here?

Dai Zong was thrown into a nearby cell, and a man dressed like a steward approached Song Jiang. “Song Gongming, your collusion with Liangshan to rebel is proven beyond doubt. This time, no one can save you. My master instructs me to tell you that certain people are not to be trifled with!” He then loudly ordered, “These two are condemned prisoners appointed by the county magistrate. Watch them closely—no suicide attempts allowed. No meals for the guards, and no visitors permitted!”

Song Jiang watched them leave, gripping the bars in fury, gritting his teeth.

“Huang Wenbing, Song Jiang will never reconcile with you!” He recalled what Sun Meng had said, and now his first target was Jiangzhou’s Wu Wei Army. But all this would have to wait until he was out.

A few days ago, Zhang Shun returned home and gathered with Li Kui and his own brother to discuss the prison break.

The moment Li Kui saw Zhang Shun, he jumped up. “Brother Zhang, isn’t the guy who brings my meals too stingy? I’m only half full!”

Zhang Shun replied, “At least you have something to eat. You don’t look starved. I’ll treat you to a feast later! I’ve found the men we need. Has Dean Dai returned?”

Li Kui said, “No matter how fast he runs, in just a little over a day, he can’t run back and forth between Liangshan!”

Zhang Shun slapped his forehead. “I got anxious and confused. Let’s go! I’ll find someone to contact Dean Dai.” His main goal was to take Li Kui out. Otherwise, with Li Kui’s temperament, any slightest disturbance would cause a scene. Also, Li Kui was too conspicuous in Jiangzhou; wandering there would surely lead to being trapped and arrested.

Li Kui followed Zhang Shun out of the city to an old temple outside, where Zhang Heng and others were waiting.

“Greetings, brothers!” Li Kui entered the temple, removed his hat, and saluted Zhang Heng and the others. These were all men coming to rescue Song Jiang. At least that owed them some loyalty.

“So this is Black Whirlwind Li Kui! What a strong man!” Zhang Heng said, admiring Li Kui’s stature. Among these men, Li Kui was the most solidly built. The slimmest, Mu Chun, estimated Li Kui’s width could fit twice his own! And this wasn’t fat—pure muscle!

“Yeah, if I hadn’t borrowed the power of water, I couldn’t have controlled him! But Tie Niu’s swimming is terrible—he just sinks!” Zhang Shun chuckled, and everyone else laughed.

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“Right now, Dean Dai hasn’t returned. Let’s think of a way to enter the city and gather information first. I sell fish inside the city; adding one or two new faces occasionally won’t raise suspicion. We can take turns going in,” Zhang Shun suggested.

“That sounds good. Let’s start with that,” Zhang Heng agreed. Without more information, even if they had the ability, they had no place to use it.

Meanwhile, Dai Zong had been sprinting all the way and finally returned to Jiangzhou. Finding no news of Song Jiang’s execution, he breathed a sigh of relief. After resting at home for a night, he took the letter and, looking anxious, went to see the county magistrate the next day.

Dai Zong was a capable man, so the magistrate remembered him well.

“Dai Zong, what’s the matter?” the magistrate asked, glancing at a book in his hands.

“Sir, there is bad news. The Liangshan bandits have heard of Song Jiang’s capture and are coming to Jiangzhou to rescue him!” Dai Zong hurriedly handed over the letter.

“Liangshan bandits!” Even in Jiangzhou, the magistrate had heard of this lawless gang recently causing chaos. They even dared kill imperial soldiers openly and brazenly spread their deeds. Such fierce bandits made even him uneasy. Fortunately, Jiangzhou had the Wu Wei Army, and with a major landowner like Huang Wenbing, if bandits came, he would surely provide funds and men. Still, this news made his heart tremble.

Opening and reading the letter, cold sweat broke out on his brow.

“How did you get this letter?” The magistrate was terrified but not foolish. Why had Dai Zong obtained it? He had heard Dai Zong had a good relationship with Song Jiang before...

Dai Zong quickly knelt. “Sir, I have no connection with the Liangshan bandits. Song Jiang is well-known in the martial world, and I consider myself half a man of the Jianghu. I only wanted to meet him before, but we were never close!”

“Enough! So the letter was delivered to you by someone from Liangshan?” the magistrate asked.

“I went out yesterday and stopped by a teahouse to rest. Someone drugged me there. I didn’t see their face clearly, but I overheard them say to deliver this letter to you. After I recovered, I ran back!” Dai Zong bowed deeply, presenting himself as a loyal subject.

The magistrate thought about the letter’s contents, still anxious, and waved Dai Zong away. As he read the letter repeatedly, Huang Wenbing happened to arrive.